Iowa Legal Ages

Legal ages in Iowa

1. Age 1

   • Rear-facing car seat age requirement ends

     The law requires a rear-facing seat until age 1; after that a child may ride forward-facing.

     Or earlier once the child weighs 20 pounds.

     Iowa law · Iowa Code § 321.446(1)(a)

2. Age 6

   • Car seat or booster age requirement ends

     The child car seat or booster requirement ends at age 6; after that a seat belt can be used.

     From 6 to 17, a restraint system or seat belt is required.

     Iowa law · Iowa Code § 321.446(1)(b)

   • Must be enrolled in school

     Iowa requires children to attend school, or approved private or home instruction, from age 6.

     A child of 4 or 5 enrolled in a district program is also covered unless the parent opts out.

     Iowa law · Iowa Code 299.1A(1)

3. Age 14

   • Can work limited hours in non-hazardous jobs (federal rule)

     Federal law lets 14- and 15-year-olds work in permitted non-hazardous jobs, outside school hours and within weekly hour limits.

     Limits: no more than 3 hours on a school day and 18 hours in a school week; 8 hours a day and 40 hours a week when school is out; only between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m. (9 p.m. from June 1 through Labor Day) (29 C.F.R. 570.35).

     Federal rule, applies in every state · 29 CFR 570.2(a)(1)

   • Can work (state minimum age)

     Iowa bars employment of anyone under 14, paid or unpaid.

     Work in or around a home and some other listed jobs are exempt.

     Iowa law · Iowa Code § 92.3

   • Can get a learner's permit

     Iowa issues an instruction permit for supervised driving at 14.

     A parent, guardian or custodian must sign consent.

     Iowa law · Iowa Code § 321.180B(1)

4. Age 16

   • Can leave school (compulsory attendance ends)

     Iowa's compulsory attendance requirement ends at the 16th birthday.

     A child who turns 16 on or after September 15 while enrolled stays covered to the end of that school year.

     Iowa law · Iowa Code 299.1A(1)

   • Can work any non-hazardous job (federal rule)

     At 16, the general federal minimum working age applies: any job except those the Labor Department declares hazardous.

     Federal rule, applies in every state · 29 CFR 570.2(a)(1)

   • Can get a first license to drive alone

     An intermediate license for driving alone is available at 16 after 12 months with a permit.

     Requires 20 hours of supervised driving (2 at night), driver education and six months free of accidents and violations.

     Iowa law · Iowa Code § 321.180B(2)(a)

   • Court emancipation (adult status) can be sought

     A minor can petition a court to be declared emancipated starting at age 16.

     Iowa law · Iowa Code § 232C.1

   • Lowest marriage age with parent or court consent

     With a parent's consent and a judge's approval, the lowest age to marry is 16.

     Iowa law · Iowa Code 595.2(2)-(5); 595.3(1)-(2)

5. Age 17

   • Can pre-register to vote

     Iowa accepts voter registrations from 17-year-olds; they can vote once they turn 18, or in a primary at 17.

     Iowa law · Iowa Code § 48A.5(2)(c)

   • Can vote in a primary if 18 by the general election

     Iowa lets 17-year-olds vote in a primary if they will be 18 by the general election.

     Iowa law · Iowa Code § 48A.5(2)(c)

6. Age 18

   • Can work in jobs federal law calls hazardous

     At 18, the federal bar on jobs the Labor Department declares hazardous for minors ends for non-farm work.

     Federal rule, applies in every state · 29 CFR 570.2(a)(1)

   • Teen license limits end (varies, see rule)

     Drivers under 18 can be licensed only through the graduated license stages.

     A full license is available at 17 after 12 months on an intermediate license with no accidents or violations in that year.

     Iowa law · Iowa Code § 321.180B

   • Can get a tattoo without a parent's consent

     Tattooing is allowed from 18; the ban on tattooing minors ends at that age.

     A married person under 18 is outside the ban.

     Iowa law · Iowa Code § 10A.531(3)

   • Becomes a legal adult (age of majority)

     State law makes a person a legal adult, with full rights to contract and sue, at 18.

     Marriage also ends minority.

     Iowa law · Iowa Code § 599.1(1)

   • Can make a will

     A person of sound mind can make a valid will at 18.

     Iowa Code 633.264 lets any person of full age and sound mind make a will; a married minor is also of full age.

     Iowa law · Iowa Code 633.3(20)

   • Can marry without a parent's consent

     A person can marry without a parent's or court's consent at 18.

     Iowa law · Iowa Code 595.2(1)

   • Adult adoptee can get the original birth certificate

     An adult adoptee can request a copy of the original birth certificate from age 18.

     Iowa law · Iowa Code 144.24A

   • Can vote

     The U.S. Constitution guarantees the right to vote at 18 in every federal, state and local election.

     Federal rule, applies in every state · U.S. Const. amend. XXVI, § 1

   • Must register with Selective Service (men)

     Men 18 through 25 who are U.S. citizens or live in the United States must register with the Selective Service System.

     Men admitted on a nonimmigrant visa are exempt while they keep that status (50 U.S.C. 3802(a)).

     Federal rule, applies in every state · 50 U.S.C. § 3802(a)

   • Can be called for state jury service

     A person can be called for state jury service from age 18.

     Iowa law · Iowa Code 607A.4(1)

   • Can be called for federal jury service

     Federal courts may call U.S. citizens 18 or older who have lived in the judicial district for a year.

     Federal rule, applies in every state · 28 U.S.C. § 1865(b)(1)

   • Charged as an adult by default (juvenile court age ends)

     Iowa tries people charged with a crime in adult court by default from age 18; younger defendants start in juvenile court.

     A juvenile court can transfer some younger defendants to adult court for serious offenses.

     Iowa law · Iowa Code § 232.2(7)

7. Age 21

   • Can drive a commercial truck across state lines

     Federal rules require drivers of commercial vehicles in interstate commerce to be at least 21.

     Federal rule, applies in every state · 49 C.F.R. § 391.11(b)(1)

   • Can buy tobacco or vapes

     Federal law bars any retailer from selling cigarettes, vapes or other tobacco products to anyone under 21, in every state.

     Federal rule, applies in every state · 21 U.S.C. § 387f(d)(5)

   • Can buy alcohol

     Federal highway funding law withholds funds from any state that lets anyone under 21 buy alcohol or possess it in public, so every state sets 21.

     Federal rules let states exempt possession (not purchase) for a religious purpose, with a parent, spouse or legal guardian 21 or older, for medical use, in private clubs, or in lawful employment (23 C.F.R. 1208.3).

     Federal rule, applies in every state · 23 U.S.C. § 158(a)

   • Can buy a lottery ticket

     State law bars selling lottery tickets to anyone under 21.

     Iowa law · Iowa Code § 99G.30

   • Under-21 credit card limits end (no cosigner or independent income needed)

     Under 21, a card issuer may open a credit card only with a cosigner or proof that you can repay on your own.

     Federal rule, applies in every state · 15 U.S.C. § 1637(c)(8)

8. Age 25

   • Can serve in the U.S. House

     The Constitution sets 25 as the minimum age for the U.S. House of Representatives.

     Federal rule, applies in every state · U.S. Const. art. I, § 2, cl. 2

9. Age 30

   • Can serve as governor

     Iowa's constitution requires the governor to be at least 30 years old.

     Iowa law · Iowa Const. art. IV, § 6

   • Can serve in the U.S. Senate

     The Constitution sets 30 as the minimum age for the U.S. Senate.

     Federal rule, applies in every state · U.S. Const. art. I, § 3, cl. 3

10. Age 35

    • Can serve as President

      The Constitution sets 35 as the minimum age for President.

      Federal rule, applies in every state · U.S. Const. art. II, § 1, cl. 5

11. Age 62

    • Can start Social Security retirement benefits (reduced)

      Social Security retirement benefits can start at 62, permanently reduced.

      Federal rule, applies in every state · SSA, Retirement Benefits: Benefit reduction for early retirement

12. Age 65

    • Eligible for Medicare by age

      Medicare hospital insurance by age begins at 65 for people entitled, or who would be entitled, to Social Security or Railroad Retirement benefits.

      Federal rule, applies in every state · 42 U.S.C. § 426(a)

13. Age 67

    • Full Social Security retirement age (born 1960 or later)

      Full Social Security retirement age is 67 for anyone born in 1960 or later.

      Federal rule, applies in every state · SSA, Full Retirement and Age 62 Benefit By Year Of Birth

14. Age 73

    • Retirement-account minimum withdrawals begin

      Required minimum distributions from traditional retirement accounts begin at 73 for people who turn 72 after 2022.

      Federal rule, applies in every state · 26 U.S.C. § 401(a)(9)(C)(v)

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